Dept. of Defense holding more urban warfare exercises in Tinley Park

The Department of Defense will be holding more urban warfare training exercises at the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center in the next two weeks, officials confirmed.

The first exercise will begin on Monday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., followed by another exercise from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 17. These exercises will not involve helicopters, according to village Emergency Management Agency Director Pat Carr.

On July 23 and July 24, the military will hold exercises from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., which will involve the use of helicopters, Carr said.

In April, the Defense Department held two days' worth of urban warfare training exercises at the former Mental Health Center. Carr said the forthcoming exercises will be similar to those, involving door-breaching explosives and some helicopters.

Numerous residents complained at the time, telling the Tribune that the military ran their exercises late into the night, disturbing families. They also reached out to village officials with similar complaints.

Carr said the military has agreed to respect "quiet hours" from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The facility is frequently used for training exercises by local and national law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff's Office, the Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.

In this case, it will be the Navy using the facility, according to Carr.

Mayor Ed Zabrocki said that's because there are a variety of buildings on the property, some reaching heights of four-stories, while others are more like individual homes, he said.